Did I have an MS attack? Or is it B12 Deficiency?

Hello :)

I posted on here a week ago about my symptoms that I've had/been having.

I'm a 30 year old white female. I exercise (or try to) regularly or at least stay active and I have a very good "diet" and I get plenty of sleep. I live a busy life, but not overly stressful by any means.

Over the past few years I've experienced, fatigue, loss of balance, blurry vision, tingling in arms and legs, feet, insomnia, lightheaded, pain/discomfort in limbs out of no where, sensitive feet to cold and heat, always cold, get hot easily. These are all things that have happened randomly. Sometimes it lasts seconds, sometimes it can last a hour. I can walk down the street then "boom" foot pain and I can't move. Or in the kitchen and my knee/leg feels week like I've been shocked.

My Big "Attack": 3 weeks ago I had this very discomforting scary sensation down my left arm. It lasted all night. I felt no anxiety or rapid heartbeat or anything of that nature. Just a numbness down my left arm. Throughout the week it faded, but other symptoms came up. I was very very tired, like falling asleep at work. I had a really hard time with vision at work, my neck was so sore and stiff and my back too, sometimes I had trouble getting of my chair and moving around, my hands hurt to type easily. One morning I couldn't grasp my toothbrush, right hand. All of this last almost two weeks.

So far, blood work - clear, EMG and NV test, clear and a sleep test - clear. My doctor is referring me to a neurologist.

A friend suggested maybe I was B12 deficient.  My nurse told me today that they didn't do a lab on my B12. She said I can ask the neurologist to do one and see what he says.

MY QUESTION IS: If you are B12 deficient can you suffer from an "attack" like that. Where you just go numb and feel completely run over by a truck and then for a week have an onset of different symptoms???

Does this sound familiar? Just wondering why they didn't ask for B12 work.

Thanks for any help and advice.

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Vitamin B12 deficiency classically begins with mild general weakness and paresthesias – however, mostly in the hands and feet. As the disease progresses, if left untreated, can cause gait abnormalities. Cognitive changes can occur ranging from apathy, irritability, somnolence, and emotional instability. Treatment is with B12 supplementation.

Additionally, hypothyroidism can cause cognitive slowing and also muscle weakness. Treatment is with supplementation.

Have you had an MRI of your brain?

I would suggest you follow up with your PCP to look at other systemic causes (such as B12, hypothyroidism, etc).

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[emmyvera]

Thank you so much for your response. Since I've posted I've met with my neuro. Boy did I luck out getting in that early! He didn't say much. He had ordered for me to have an MRI. I asked about the b12 and he said is sure that isn't causing all of my symptoms. Last week in the middle of the night I had a very painful stabbing pain in my shoulder blade and tonight I had a very tightening pain in my rib cage. It seems like a new symptom pops up every few days and then I'm so tired for a day or two.

To answer the thyroid question...... My GP did that blood work and the results were normal. So far they have told me what I dont have: lupus, rheumo art., thyroid issues, all potassium and white and blood cells look good, not neuropathy, carpel tunnel and b12.

So now I just get the MRI and wait. I didn't note this earlier but my dad has parkinson's and I think that is a concern for my neuro as well.

Thanks again! I really appreciate it. I'm just so tired and overwhelmed at this point. It is like I'm not myself. Ugh!

Thanks doc!!! :)

[castlecat]

If you don't find anything else out ask your doctor what he means by "normal" on your thyroid test. Many people have hypothyroid issues even if they are within the range. My endo got mine to the lower end of the TSH (almost hyperthyroid) and it helped some of my issues.